Authors note: Aaaah should I put another cliffhanger in at the end of this chapter

Authors note: Aaaah should I put another cliffhanger in at the end of this chapter? Would that be too cruel? Hmm, cruel *evil grin* I believe I shall. First and foremost though, I must give complete credit for most of this story line to Nightshadow *glomps* it is a stunning idea, but can I put it into the right words? Well, we'll find out now won't we? Oh yeah, this will be a 1+2 bwhahahahah!

Nightshadow: Of course you can. I'll just help a little. Heyla, everybody! Guess what! d_d invited me to co-write on this fic! You know what that means don't you? Lots and Lots of sap! Plus some really weird people, most if not all of whom will be good guys.  They'll help Duo and Heero out, though it won't seem like it. 1+2 is the best! *High five's d_d*

Disclaimer: We don't own them, so we'll just borrow them for a bit. ^_^

"Then I'll let you in on a little secret Heero Yuy…"


"What?" Heero asked, curious despite himself. Duo walked closer, a small frown stretching over his angelic features. [1]

"For some reason, I didn't go where I was supposed to."


"Huh?"


The violet-eyed boy swallowed slightly, "Father Maxwell told me, just before he died (I was trying to get him out, but he said to save myself) that if I died in the fire, then it wouldn't be 'my time' and I'd remain here, unless a rhyme was said, on Lammos Night. The trouble is, I don't know what the hell Lammos Night is, and what this rhyme is meant to be, he could have just been hallucinating." The ghost sighed, tears pooling in his eyes.

Heero's eyes welled with pity and sympathy. [2] Suddenly a thought struck him; "Lammos sounds like Old Latin, maybe it translates into English as something else!" He smiled, suddenly cheerful, "I bet they have the answer in the school library…come on!" He tried to link his hand through Duo's to drag him down the hill, forgetting for the moment that he was a ghost, because Duo looked so real.

His hand passed straight through. He felt a brief coldness, but that was all. "Oops, sorry."


Duo grinned, "Hey no problem, even I forget I'm a ghost sometimes."


Curiously Heero looked at the other boy; "Can I hurt you?" [3]

"Nope." Duo shook his head, stretching out his hand again, letting it mingle with Heero's flesh, slender fingers passing through slender fingers.

"Can you hurt me?"


"Nope." Heero began to move his own hand; their fingers were now weaving in and out, wrists passing through one another but eyes never leaving each other's faces as violet met blue.

Heero shivered slightly, the feeling was so…strange, but at the same time calming, almost as though he were safe and protected, just by touching this strange boy.

The moment passed however, and Duo pulled away, a sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry." He said, "You were probably freaked out by that."


Heero looked up and smiled a heart-warming smile at the other boy. "Nope." He said, mimicking Duo's words.

As they walked down the hill, their hands never left one another's. [4]

************

Content with the braided boy's prescience, Heero, didn't realize the flaw in his plan until they had reached the edge of town. He didn't know where the school library was. "Hey, Duo."

"Yeah."

"Where's the Library?"

The braided boy turned laughter filled eyes to the boy beside him. "You don't know?"

He turned a slight glare on the violet-eyed boy. "Would I ask if I did?"

"Guess not. Good thing I'm here then."

"I'd be glad you were here anyway."

This earned him a radiant smile from the other boy.  "Well C'mon then. Onward march! To the library we go!"

A slight smile found purchase on Heero's face as he increased his pace to keep up with the other boy and not loose touch with him.

A few minutes later Duo had led them to the brick building that was the school library. "Well, here we are. Ready to see if Llammas Night means anything?" A glimmer of hope lay in his eyes. He hoped what father Maxwell had said was true. He didn't want to remain in Limbo forever.

Heero catching the faint glimmer smiled reassuringly. "Hai."  Walking forward he held the door open for Duo, then walked to the front desk to speak to the Librarian all the while keeping his hand with Duo's. He couldn't bring himself to break the bond that tenuous contact seemed to make.  Looking up he read the librarian's nametag: Talien.{5} Confused at how in the world he was supposed to pronounce that he turned to the boy beside him. After all this had been his school before he died.

The braided ghost held up a hand in protest.  He too could not bring himself to break the tenuous bond between them. "Don't look at me. I've never seen her before."

Amused laughter caught their attention and turning they found themselves looking into ancient, cat like amber eyes.

"It's pronounced Tal-yen. Blame my parents. They decided I needed a fancy name."

Both boys smiled, though only one was seen.

"Now how may I help you?"

"W…I need to find some books about Lammas Night.  What it means and what might be special about it."

"Alright. I believe I know where those can be found. Follow me, if you please." With a quick smile she led them to the back of the library and pointed out a small section of books. "I believe these will be useful to your purpose. I'll leave you to look here while I check another place or two. Enjoy yourselves."  And with that she was gone.

Heero quickly read over the titles of the books, then grabbed two of the most likely and walked over to a table to begin reading.  Duo followed him peering over his shoulder as Heero turned the pages scanning them for info.  Near the end of the second book an hour later they found a single reference to Lammas Night.

            "Lammas Night also called All Hallow's Eve or Halloween was once believed to be the night the dead came back to the land of the living to visit the relatives left behind. They are supposedly able to do this because the veil between this world and the Otherworld is thinner.  There are others who believe that on this night power or magic is in more abundance, supposedly making it so that even the non-gifted can cast a spell if their will is strong enough.  There is very little proof to support these facts; however,…"

"That's it! Out of both books that's all there is? A single reference? It doesn't even mention the Rhyme we need!" The braided boy tugged his braid dejectedly. Without the rhyme he'd never live again.

"Calm down, Duo. We'll find the rhyme. These are the only books we've looked at. I'm sure there are others…" The Japanese boy trailed off as a glance to the side showed a book lying on the table that hadn't been there when they settled in to read. Duo, following the shorthaired boys gaze stared as well. Beside them was a small black leather bound tomb.  The cover was decorated in silver trees, flowers, moons and stars. In the center of the design was an elegantly complex Celtic knot.

"Wow! Cool looking book! I guess Talien found it. Think it might have what we need Heero?" He turned to the blue-eyed boy, a bright smile lighting up his face.

"Maybe. Duo,…did you here Talien come over? I didn't. I don't usually miss something like someone coming near me." He turned to look at the braided boy and found himself mesmerized by the way Duo's smile lit up his face.

"You know, come to think of it. I didn't. Maybe she's just really quiet." Meeting Heero's gaze Duo found himself caught in the deep blue of his eyes and not unpleasantly so.

Neither noticed the person watching them from the shadows or caught the flash of amber eyes as the book was opened and the pages tuned with unseen hands, coming to rest on a page near the middle.  Talien smiled to herself. Her job was done. It was up to them now. All she could do was wait and see. Still smiling she left, moving through the veils to travel where she wished.  A gentle wind, all that marked her passing.

A soft wind blowing through the windowless room startled the two boys from their eye gazing and the business at hand. They turned back to the book, only to find it open.

"He-heero. Please tell me you opened the book to that page." Stuttered the wide-eyed boy.

"I can't because I didn't. Don't worry though. You're safe. You're already dead." Teased the cobalt-eyed boy, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Gee thanks, Heero. Remind me why don't you." Exclaimed the annoyed boy throwing his arms up for emphasis.

A slight snicker came from the Japanese boy. "So, shall we?"

"Sure. Might as well. Certainly can't hurt to look."  Reuniting his hand with the shorthaired boy's, Duo walked beside him as they edged closer to the book.  On one page was a picture of figures in a forest walking together and on the other a poem. One of the figures seemed strangely transparent, while the other was perfectly solid

Bathed full in moonlight sublime

You'll find the rhyme for one in non-time.

Within the Sidhe's silver grove

In the center of endless love{6}

Only aging hands and feet can take

And on Lammas night repeat for another's sake {7}

"Heero! Do you think maybe it's the rhyme?" He was jumping up and down excitedly, all thoughts of failure gone.

"No, but it is a riddle that tells us where and when to find to find it." He smiled softly at Duo, enjoying the exuberance of the young ghost.

"More work then?" Came the annoyed sigh.

"Hai. But, we do have three weeks to figure out the riddle."

"Cool. Then lets grab our weird open myself book and go." Laughing he led the way to the front desk.

Heero, stopped at the front desk to check out the book and thank Talien, but instead of an ancient eyed young woman, he found an older lady with gray around the edges. Confused he turned to Duo.

Peering over Heero's shoulder, Duo eyed the older woman. "I know her. She was here before I died. She always gave ya a piece of candy when you checked out a book. Her names Mrs. Gale."

"Hello, May I help you?" Came the softly spoken question.

"Hai. Do you know where the other librarian, Ms. Talien can be found?"

"I'm sorry, young man, but I'm the only librarian we have here. Did you need anything else?"

Both boys wore slightly shocked looks. Heero, being the solid one, answered the kind lady.  "No, Gale-sama. Thank you for your time."   He turned and quickly walked from the library. Once outside he leaned against a rail, closing his eyes, while Duo stood next to him, their hands still joined.

"Hey Heero, why'd you take the book? We didn't check it out."

"We didn't need to. It wasn't the library's book. It was Talien's."

"Oh, yeah. If she wasn't a librarian, then who was she?"

He turned to look at the braided boy beside him. "I don't know. And that bothers me."

Taking on his old devil-may-care attitude he smiled cheekily at Heero. "Aye, well at least she's helping us. Guess that says something in her favor."

"Aye, that it does." Catching sight of the fading rays of the sun he sighed softly. He didn't want to go home. He liked being with Duo, but he had to leave. "I gotta head home. It's getting late." He walked slowly down the steps, the braided ghost walking beside him.

Playing nervously with his braid, Duo looked to Heero then away and back again.

"Duo." A slight smile teased the cobalt-eyed boy's lips

"Hai." He glanced sideways at Heero.

"Just ask."

The young ghost smiled sheepishly. "I was kinda wonderin' if I could crash at your place. I mean if you don't mind." He finished in a rush.

"Hai."

"Really?! Oh, cool! Thanks Heero!" He grinned, jumping up and down excitedly. "Alright! I don't have to spend the whole night talkin' to myself!"

Heero laughed softly. Then smiling, he watched the braided boy, delighted that he had been the cause of his joy.

"C'mon. Lets get goin then!"

"Hai." Smiling, happily the cobalt eyed boy led the way, their hands still joined.

D.D.:  Now ain't she just the best writer  people? ^_^  *High fives Nightshadow back* Now no one can argue with sap and 1+2 can they?

[1] Ok, ok I know, Duo praise, but…well…he is my favorite character. *Smiles*

[2] I know Heero would probably never cry, so he's out of character, but this is my fic so who cares? (Rhetorical question, don't answer my insane ramblings.) J

[3] Aaaah! So many footnotes! This scene is sorta from a film I watched once, and I vaguely remembered this, this scene is what inspired me to write this fic. (Lots of this' here.)

[4] Yet another footnote, what am I on this evening? Ah well, the happy sappy stuff has started; lets see how long it lasts hmm?

{5} Here's the stranger I's mentioning. She's a good guy. Oh and if your wondering about the name, I tend to make really odd sounding names for my charas. You should read some of the bad guys' names I've come up with, then again maybe not. ^_^

{6} Okay. This line kinda holds my own view. But it has to do with something edible. ^_^

{7} Anybody want to see if they can figure it out before we tell ya what it means? Take it line by line, then stanza by stanza. That's all the hints I'm giving! Enjoy!